Organic Perfume

Home

Ittar (Hindi/Urdu), also known as attar, is an essential oil
derived from botanical sources. Most commonly these oils are extracted
via hydro or steam distillation. They can also be expressed by chemical
means but generally natural perfumes which qualify as ittars are
distilled with water. The oils are generally distilled into a wood base
such as sandalwood and then aged. The aging period can last from one to
ten years depending on the botanicals used and the results desired.
Technically ittars are distillates of flowers, herbs, spices and other
natural materials such as baked soil over sandalwood oil/liquid
paraffins using hydro distillation technique with deg and bhapka. These
techniques are still in use today at Kannauj
in India. This is one of the oldest natural fragrant materials, nearly
5000 years old. Some of the first lovers of ittars were the Mughal nobles of India.[1] Jasmine ittar was the favorite perfume of the Nizams of the Hyderabad state.
Traditionally in the Eastern world, it was a customary practice of
nobility to offer ittar to their guests at the time of their departure.
The ittars are traditionally given in ornate tiny crystal cut bottles called as itardans.
This tradition of giving a scent to one's guests continues to this day
in many parts of the Eastern world. Among Sufi worshipers the use of
Ittars during meditation circles and dances is quite common